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MG 1 vol 2124 number 290b
HALIFAX DISASTER RECORD OFFICE
CHRONICLE BUILDING
JOURNAL
HALIFAX, N. S.
January 12, 1918.
From 'The Presbyterian Witness'

Dr. Codamn, who has a private hospiral in Boston, and who is an authority in hospital organization, started immediately on a special train with his staff of assistant doctors and nurses, and carrying a stock of supplies. He arrived on Sunday morning and was put in charge of the Y.M.C.A. Hospital by the Military Medical Authorities. He soon had it well organized from top to bottom and it is now regarded as one of the best adapted best appointed and most successfully conducted hospitals in the city.
Since the beginning of the war the 'Y' building had been a sort of Military and naval headquarters, and growing in use and popularity. The week preceding there was a record attendance, due partly to the assembling in the city of a large transport, made up of many nationalities. On the previous Saturday, not less than tw two thousand Military and Naval men made use of the social privileges afforded them by this building. In the front lobby might be seen a bunch of American navy boys gathered around a piano, giving an inpromptu entertainment. In another room on the same floor could be seen another group around another piano also having a jolly sing, with an audience of their own; while the large assebmly hall was crowded to its utmost capacity at the regular Saturday night "Open House" for Army and Navy men. The Billiard Room, Bath Room, Correspondence and Reading Room and all other available rooms, were in full and constant use.
In view of the place which this building occupies and the service it renders it is given only as an "Emergency Hospital" to be released and restored to its normal work just as soon as the pressure is removed from the other hospitals in the city. To have had such a building to give for such a a humane purpose, in such a cirsis, has been a great source of satisfaction to the Board of Directors, the Staff and the whole Association. it will serve to give the Institution a larger place than ever in the hearts of the citizens of Halifax, and any temporary loss sustained will surely be more than compensated in the end.